FEMA Restarts Disaster Preparedness Program

Created with Fast March 26, 2026 at 10:43 AMPublished July 12, 2026 at 06:20 AM

What key disaster preparedness program is FEMA restarting after 22 democratic states sued to have it restored

FEMA is restarting the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.

CBS News

The program is being restored following a successful lawsuit led by a coalition of 22 Democratic-led states (and the District of Columbia). The states challenged the Trump administration's April 2025 decision to terminate the program, which they argued was an unlawful move to cut billions in congressionally mandated disaster preparedness funding.

Newsday+ 1

Key Details of the Restoration:

  • The Lawsuit: Filed in July 2025, the coalition—co-led by Massachusetts and Washington—argued that the administration violated the separation of powers by refusing to spend funds already appropriated by Congress.

    Minnesota Attorney General's Office

  • The Court Ruling: In December 2025, a federal judge ruled the termination was illegal. When FEMA failed to immediately resume the program, the court issued a follow-up enforcement order in March 2026.

    National Association of Home Builders | NAHB

  • Funding Availability: FEMA has now opened applications for $1 billion in grants for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. These funds are used by states and local governments to "harden" infrastructure against natural hazards like floods, wildfires, and earthquakes.

    FEMA+ 1

  • New Rules: While the program is back, the administration has implemented new guidelines designed to shift more responsibility to the states and has removed some technical assistance for smaller communities.

    FEMA

Would you like me to look into the specific grant application deadlines or the new rules that might affect projects in your area?

Yes

The restoration of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program comes with a specific timeline and several notable shifts in how the funds are managed.

Here is the breakdown of the deadlines and the updated rules:

1. Critical Deadlines

FEMA has officially reissued the funding opportunity for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025.

The Washington Post

  • Application Window: Opened March 25, 2026.

    FEMA

  • Final Deadline: Applications must be submitted by July 23, 2026.

    FEMA

  • Total Funding: Approximately $1 billion is available in this combined cycle.

    The Washington Post

2. Key Changes to Program Rules

Under the new guidelines, FEMA is emphasizing "original statutory intent," which translates to a leaner, more infrastructure-focused approach.

Homeland Security Today

  • Shift in Responsibility: The new rules maximize state and local responsibility for risk reduction. FEMA is moving away from funding a "wide range of activities" and is instead prioritizing projects that are "ready to implement" immediately.

    AP News

  • Cessation of Technical Assistance: A major change is the elimination of non-financial Direct Technical Assistance (DTA) and funding for general hazard mitigation planning. This means communities must now have their plans and engineering studies finalized before applying.

    AP News+ 1

  • Infrastructure Priority: Scoring now heavily favors major infrastructure "hardening" (e.g., utility grid protection, seismic retrofitting, and flood control) rather than climate-focused or "soft" social programs.

    AP News

  • Funding Caps & Equity: To address past criticisms that funds only went to large coastal states, there are new caps on how much a single recipient can receive. There is also a scoring "weight" given to first-time applicants and "economically disadvantaged rural communities."

    AP News

3. Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a grant in this cycle, several criteria must be met:

  • Disaster Declaration History: The state or territory must have received a major disaster declaration within the last seven years (this currently applies to both Indiana and California).

    EPA

  • Approved Mitigation Plan: Sub-applicants (cities/counties) must have a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan at the time of the application and award. These plans typically expire every five years and must be up-to-date.

    Mass.gov+ 1

  • Cost-Share: The standard match remains 75% federal / 25% non-federal. However, "economically disadvantaged rural communities" (populations under 3,000) may qualify for a 90% / 10% split.

    EPA

Current Funding Lapse Note

It is worth noting that as of late March 2026, there is a partial federal funding lapse affecting the Department of Homeland Security. While the grant portal (FEMA GO) is operational for submitting applications, technical help desks and regional support staff may have delayed response times until full appropriations are restored.

FEMA

Would you like me to find the specific contact information for the Hazard Mitigation Officers in Indiana or California to check if a particular property's local area is currently covered by an active mitigation plan?

Yes

To verify if a specific area or property is covered under an active FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan, you can contact the state-level offices directly or use their digital mapping tools.

FEMA

Here is the most current contact and lookup information for both regions:

Indiana (DHS Mitigation Section)

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) manages federal mitigation funds for the state.

  • Primary Contact Email: mitigation@dhs.in.gov

  • Phone Number: 317-232-2222

    IN.gov

  • Address: 302 W. Washington St., Room E208, Indianapolis, IN 46204

    IN.gov

  • Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Monday – Friday)

    IN.gov

Pro Tip: Since Indianapolis-based projects are a frequent focus for you, you can ask the Mitigation Section specifically for the "Local Hazard Mitigation Plan" status of Marion County. These plans must be updated every five years to remain "active" for FEMA funding.

California (Cal OES Mitigation Branch)

California’s program is highly specialized due to the frequency of wildfires and seismic activity.

  • State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO): Robyn Fennig

    FEMA

  • General Inquiry Email: HMA@caloes.ca.gov

  • Phone Number: 916-328-7450

    California Grants Portal - CA.gov

  • Local Planning Team: For specific questions about local plan expiration dates, you can reach out to the Local Mitigation Planning Unit at Constantin.Raether@CalOES.ca.gov.

How to Check an Address Yourself

If you want to see the specific hazard risk for a property (which is often the first step in a grant sub-application), you can use these digital tools:

  1. FEMA Map Service Center (MSC): Use the Search by Address tool to find official flood maps (FIRMs) and see if a property is in a high-risk zone.

  2. Cal OES "MyPlan" Tool: California provides a GIS-based "MyPlan" tool that allows you to enter an address and see which natural hazards (fire, flood, earthquake) the local community has identified in their mitigation strategy.

Note for 2026: Because the BRIC program applications are due by July 23, 2026, these offices are currently handling a high volume of inquiries. If you are checking for a property with recent damage, mentioning any existing disaster declaration numbers will help them route your request faster.

Would you like me to draft an inquiry email for you to send to one of these offices to check the status of a specific property or project?